U.S. patent application number 12/406211 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-30 for operating device having retained operating lever.
This patent application is currently assigned to LEOPOLD KOSTAL GMBH & CO. KG. Invention is credited to Knut Moldenhauer, Werner Volmer.
Application Number | 20090188343 12/406211 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38863111 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090188343 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moldenhauer; Knut ; et
al. |
July 30, 2009 |
OPERATING DEVICE HAVING RETAINED OPERATING LEVER
Abstract
A vehicular operating device includes a lever movably attachable
at one end to a housing such as a steering column such that the
lever is pivotable relative to the housing between different
positions. A connector connectable to the housing is adjacent to
the first end of the lever and is in communication with the hollow
body of the lever. A catch line having first and second ends runs
through the hollow body of the lever with the first end of the
catch line being connected to the connector and the second end of
the catch line being connected to the second end of the lever. Upon
the lever breaking, the catch line secures the lever to the
connector as the catch line is connected to both of the second end
of the lever and the connector to thereby prevent the lever from
breaking away from the housing.
Inventors: |
Moldenhauer; Knut; (Hagen,
DE) ; Volmer; Werner; (Iserlohn, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C.
1000 TOWN CENTER, TWENTY-SECOND FLOOR
SOUTHFIELD
MI
48075
US
|
Assignee: |
LEOPOLD KOSTAL GMBH & CO.
KG
Ludenscheid
DE
|
Family ID: |
38863111 |
Appl. No.: |
12/406211 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/EP2007/060648 |
Oct 8, 2007 |
|
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12406211 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
74/519 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 74/20582 20150115;
Y10T 74/20612 20150115; B60R 21/0286 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
74/519 |
International
Class: |
G05G 1/00 20060101
G05G001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 10, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 047 727.8 |
Claims
1. A device comprising: a lever having an actuating arm, the
actuating arm having a hollow body between a first end and a second
end, the first end of the actuating arm being movably attachable to
a housing such that the actuating arm is pivotable relative to the
housing between different positions; a connector adjacent to the
first end of the actuating arm and in communication with the hollow
body of the actuating arm, the connector being connectable to the
housing; and a catch line having a first end and a second end, the
catch line running through the hollow body of the actuating arm
with the first end of the catch line being connected to the
connector and the second end of the catch line being connected to
the second end of the actuating arm; wherein, upon the actuating
arm breaking, the catch line secures the actuating arm to the
connector as the catch line is connected to both of the second end
of the actuating arm and the connector to thereby prevent the
actuating arm from breaking away from the housing.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein: the hollow body of the actuating
arm includes a cross-brace adjacent to the second end of the
actuating arm, wherein the second end of the catch line is
connected to the cross-brace in order to connect to the second end
of the actuating arm.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein: a portion of the first end of the
catch line encircles the connector with the first end of the catch
line being connected to the connector.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein: the second end of the catch line
is molded to the second end of the actuating arm in order to
connect to the second end of the actuating arm.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein: the catch line includes a body
portion between the first and second ends of the catch line, the
body portion of the catch line being longer than the distance
between a first connecting point where the first end of the catch
line is connected to the connector and a second connecting point
where the second end of the catch line is connected to the second
end of the actuating arm.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein: the body portion of the catch
line is at least twice as long as the distance between the first
and second connecting points.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein: the first end of the actuating
arm includes a predetermined breaking point such that upon the
actuating arm breaking the actuating arm breaks at the
predetermined breaking point.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein: the catch line includes at least
one of a plastic fiber and a nylon fiber.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein: the catch line is a metal
wire.
10. A device comprising: a lever having a hollow body between a
first end and a second end; a wall formation having a cavity, the
wall formation adjacent the first end of the lever with the cavity
in communication with the hollow body of the lever and opening away
from the first end of the lever, the wall formation being
attachable to a housing with the cavity of the wall formation
meeting the housing; wherein the first end of the lever is movably
attached to the wall formation such that the lever is pivotable
relative to the wall formation between different positions; a
connector within the cavity of the wall formation, the connector
being connectable to the housing; and a catch line having a first
end and a second end, the catch line running through the hollow
body of the lever with the first end of the catch line being
connected to the connecting meas and the second end of the catch
line being connected to the second end of the lever; wherein upon
the lever breaking away from the wall formation, the catch line
retains the lever to the connector as the catch line is connected
to both of the second end of the lever and the connector to thereby
prevent the lever from moving away from the connector.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein: the hollow body of the lever
includes a cross-brace adjacent to the second end of the lever,
wherein the second end of the catch line is connected to the
cross-brace in order to connect to the second end of the lever.
12. The device of claim 10 wherein: a portion of the first end of
the catch line encircles the connector with the first end of the
catch line being connected to the connector.
13. The device of claim 10 wherein: the catch line includes a body
portion between the first and second ends of the catch line, the
body portion of the catch line being longer than the distance
between a first connecting point where the first end of the catch
line is connected to the connector and a second connecting point
where the second end of the catch line is connected to the second
end of the lever.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein: the body portion of the catch
line is at least twice as long as the distance between the first
and second connecting points.
15. The device of claim 10 wherein: the first end of the lever
includes a predetermined breaking point such that upon the lever
breaking the lever breaks at the predetermined breaking point.
16. A device for a vehicle having a steering column, the device
comprising: a lever having a hollow body between a first end and a
second end; a wall formation having a cavity, the wall formation
adjacent the first end of the lever with the cavity in
communication with the hollow body of the lever and opening away
from the first end of the lever, the wall formation being attached
to the steering column with the cavity of the wall formation
meeting the steering column; the first end of the lever being
movably attached to the wall formation such that the lever is
pivotable relative to the wall formation between different
positions; a connector within the cavity of the wall formation, the
connector connected to the wall formation and to the steering
column; and a catch line having a first end and a second end, the
catch line running through the hollow body of the lever with the
first end of the catch line being connected to the connector and
the second end of the catch line being connected to the second end
of the lever; wherein upon the lever breaking away from the wall
formation, the catch line retains the lever to the connector as the
catch line is connected to both of the second end of the lever and
the connector to thereby prevent the lever from moving away from
the steering column.
17. The device of claim 16 wherein: the hollow body of the lever
includes a cross-brace adjacent to the second end of the lever,
wherein the second end of the catch line is connected to the
cross-brace in order to connect to the second end of the lever.
18. The device of claim 16 wherein: a portion of the first end of
the catch line encircles the connector with the first end of the
catch line being connected to the connector.
19. The device of claim 16 wherein: the catch line includes a body
portion between the first and second ends of the catch line, the
body portion of the catch line being at least twice as long as the
distance between a first connecting point where the first end of
the catch line is connected to the connector and a second
connecting point where the second end of the catch line is
connected to the second end of the lever.
20. The device of claim 16 wherein: the first end of the lever
includes a predetermined breaking point such that upon the lever
breaking away from the wall formation the lever breaks at the
predetermined breaking point.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of International
Application PCT/EP2007/060648, published in German, with an
international filing date of Oct. 8, 2007, which claims priority to
DE 10 2006 047 727.8, filed Oct. 10, 2006; the disclosures of which
are both hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a vehicular operating
device having an operating lever movably attached to a housing such
as a steering column.
[0004] 2. Background Art
[0005] An operating device for a vehicle includes an operating
lever movably attached to a housing such as a steering column. The
lever is movable relative to the steering column between an initial
position and an operating position in order to effect a control
operation such as turn signal activation.
[0006] A problem is that the lever may break off from the steering
column during an accident. A broken lever must not uncontrollably
fly through the passenger space of the vehicle as the lever would
be a danger to passengers in the vehicle.
[0007] Such a lever may include electrical switching elements
(e.g., rotating rings, buttons, etc.) on the end of the lever
facing away from the steering column. In this case, a cable harness
passes through the lever and is connected to the switching
elements. The cable harness retains the lever in the event that the
lever breaks off.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An object of the present invention includes a vehicular
operating device having an operating lever movably attachable to a
housing such as a steering column in which the lever lacks an
integrated electrical switching element and a cable harness
associated with the switching element and in which the lever is
retained securely to the steering column in the event that the
lever breaks off.
[0009] In carrying out the above object and other objects, the
present invention provides a vehicular operating device having an
operating lever, a connector, and a catch line. The lever has an
actuating arm with a hollow body between first and second ends. The
first end of the arm is movably attachable to a housing such that
the arm is pivotable relative to the housing between different
positions. The connector is adjacent to the first end of the arm
and is in communication with the hollow body of the arm. The
connector is connectable to the housing. The catch line has first
and second ends. The catch line runs through the hollow body of the
arm with the first end of the catch line being connected to the
connector and the second end of the catch line being connected to
the second end of the arm. Upon the arm breaking, the catch line
secures the arm to the connector as the catch line is connected to
both of the second end of the arm and the connector to thereby
prevent the arm from breaking away from the housing.
[0010] The hollow body of the arm may include a cross-brace
adjacent to the second end of the arm. The second end of the catch
line is connected to the cross-brace in order to connect to the
second end of the arm.
[0011] A portion of the first end of the catch line preferably
encircles the connector with the first end of the catch line being
connected to the connector.
[0012] The catch line includes a body portion between its first and
second ends. The body portion of the catch line is at least twice
as long as the distance between a first connecting point where the
first end of the catch line is connected to the connector and a
second connecting point where the second end of the catch line is
connected to the second end of the arm.
[0013] The first end of the arm may include a predetermined
breaking point such that upon the arm breaking the arm breaks at
the predetermined breaking point.
[0014] In embodiments of the present invention, an operating device
includes an operating lever having an actuating arm in which a
catch line is connected at a first end to the actuating arm and is
connected at a second end either to connecting means connected to a
housing or directly to the housing. The catch line causes the
actuating arm when broken off from the housing to remain connected
to other components of the operating device which remain connected
to the housing.
[0015] The catch line can include a filament, cord, cable, or wire.
The material and cross-sectional area of the catch line is freely
selectable provided that the catch line has sufficient tensile
strength. Criteria to be used in the selection of materials and
design of the catch line include simplicity of assembly inside the
lever and lowest possible cost.
[0016] In embodiments of the present invention, the catch line
consists of plastic. The catch line can be provided by a molded
recess on the actuating arm of the operating lever and/or on the
housing.
[0017] The above features, and other features and advantages of the
present invention as readily apparent from the following detailed
descriptions thereof when taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a first view of a vehicular operating
device having an operating lever in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates a second view of the operating device in
accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0020] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicular operating device
having an operating lever 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention is shown. Lever 1 includes an actuating arm 2. A
cutaway sectional view of actuating arm 2 is shown in FIG. 1.
Actuating arm 2 has a hollow body with a plurality of cross-braces
5 therein for mechanical stabilization. Actuating arm 2 has a
semi-spherical shaped molded formation (e.g., recess) 6 at a first
end of the actuating arm. Formation 6 is movably attachable to a
housing such as a steering column such that actuating arm 2 is
movable relative to the formation and/or the steering column
between an initial position and an operating position while being
attached to the steering column.
[0021] Lever 1 includes a catch line 3. Catch line 3 includes first
and second ends. Catch line 3 runs through the hollow body of
actuating arm 2. The second end of catch line 3 is connected to a
cross-brace 5 of the actuating arm. The connection between the
second end of catch line 3 and cross-brace 5 is enabled by a
plastic formation on the cross-brace. Catch line 3 extends from
cross-brace 5 within the hollow body of actuating arm 2 along the
longitudinal direction of the actuating arm into the interior of
formation 6 at the first end of the actuating arm. As shown in FIG.
2, formation 6 of actuating arm 2 forms a cavity into which the
first end of catch line 3 is positioned.
[0022] Lever 1 includes connecting means 4. A portion of connecting
means 4 is positioned within the cavity of formation 6 at the first
end of actuating arm 2 and is connected to the formation. The
remaining portion of connecting means 4 is positioned within and
connected to the steering column. As a result of the connection
between formation 6 and connecting means 4 and the connection
between connecting means 4 and the steering column, actuating arm 2
is movably attached to the steering column while being movable
(e.g., pivotable) between its initial and operating positions. For
example, actuating arm 2 may pivot about the first end of actuating
arm 2 between the initial and operating positions while the first
end of the actuating arm is attached to the steering column via
connecting means 4.
[0023] Actuating arm 2 has a mechanically weakened section in the
neighborhood of formation 6. The weakened section of actuating arm
2 forms a predetermined breaking point 7. When actuating arm 2
breaks off such as during an accident, then the break of the
actuating arm 2 will likely occur in the region of breaking point
7. That is, a main portion of actuating arm 2 on the side of
breaking point 7 facing away from formation 6 will break off. The
remaining portion of actuating arm 2 between breaking point 7 and
formation 6 along with the formation itself remains connected to
the steering column due to the connection between the formation and
connecting means 4 and the connection between the connecting means
and the steering column.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the first end of catch line 3 within the
cavity of formation 6 is placed loosely about connecting means 4
like a noose 8. Upon the main portion of actuating arm 2 breaking
off, noose 8 of the second end of catch line 3 is pulled tightly
about connecting means 4. As a result, the main portion of
actuating arm 2 remains connected to formation 6 and thereby
remains connected to the steering column due to catch line 3.
Uncontrolled dispersal of loose debris in the form of the broken
main portion of actuating arm 2 is thus effectively prevented along
with the resulting hazards.
[0025] It is advantageous that the first end of catch line 3
initially loosely encircles connecting means 4 like a noose 8
because in this way the catch line is made to be somewhat longer
than required to bridge the two binding points of the catch line.
The reason for this is that the force leading to breaking of
actuating arm 2 does not simultaneously rupture catch line 3.
[0026] In another embodiment of the operating device, the first end
of catch line 3 is not fixed to connecting means 4 but is instead
directly fixed to the steering column. Such an embodiment is
advantageous if the possibility of breakage of connecting means 4
cannot be excluded in the pivot area of actuating arm 2 at the
steering column.
REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0027] 1 Operating lever [0028] 2 Actuating arm [0029] 3 Catch line
[0030] 4 Connecting means [0031] 5 Cross-braces [0032] 6
Semi-spherical molded formation [0033] 7 Predetermined breaking
point [0034] 8 Noose
[0035] While embodiments of the present invention have been
illustrated and described, it is not intended that these
embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the
present invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are
words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood
that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention.
* * * * *